Saturday, April 18, 2009

Real Men Are Responsible

I saw in the news recently that women in Afghanistan are still being mistreated by men. Young girls are forced into marriages with much older men, wives are beaten, and other terrible things are still being done to girls and women. This, of course, is the result of an ancient culture that is unenlightened and primitive. That’s not an excuse, just a fact.

Then I wonder, why do we see women and children abused by men in more “enlightened” cultures, such as right here in the good ol’ U. S. of A.? I guess some men are still unenlightened and primitive, often learning to abuse from their unenlightened and primitive fathers. These things tend to perpetuate themselves, but the chain must be broken.

I guess I’m the eternal optimist, but I’m still shocked when I hear of a father who couldn’t care less about his family, won’t watch the kids on the occasional evening when his wife wants to go somewhere, or would rather watch TV than spend time with his kids. Of course some men have to prove to themselves that they “still have it” and so get involved with other women. The result of all these is a disintegrating family, which damages the kids for life.

I ask those guys, why did you bother to have children if you don’t care about them? Why did you even get married if you don’t want to spend time with your wife? Why can’t you act like a grown-up and be responsible? Don’t you realize that your stupid behavior is making all men look bad? The media latches on to this bad behavior, and so men are caricatured in sitcoms such as Two and a Half Men and The Simpsons, to name just two, giving the false impression that all men are like that. Men, grow up and be a real man!

It is God’s plan for men and women to marry, and for the man to be protective and caring about his wife and family. In several places in the New Testament, men are encouraged to love their wives. Women are never encouraged to love their husbands, but rather to respect them (in so many words). It’s difficult to respect someone who is a slug, a slob, is disconnected, is never home, or couldn’t care less about the family he is supposed to be responsible for. Respect must be earned. By the way, once you start acting like the man you’re supposed to be, you’ll be amazed at the changes in your wife and kids. It may take a while, but it will be worth the wait.

Men, don’t be like the Afghans. We are supposedly more enlightened, so act like it. Earn back that respect that is due you by fulfilling God’s purposes for your life – such as being a good father and husband, for example.